How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Portuguese words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Portuguese vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Portuguese vocabulary: basic verbs

To be, to have, to go, to do, to want: the basic Portuguese verbs, the ones found in almost every sentence.

Here are 100 Portuguese words on “Core verbs”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Portuguese	English
acrescentar	to add
responder	to answer
conhecer	to be familiar withBe familiar with someone or something
tornar-se	to becomeChange from one state to another
construir	to build
comprar	to buy
chamar	to call
carregar	to carryHave on you, carry around
vir	to come
voltar	to come back
criar	to create
morrer	to die
entrar	to enter
explicar	to explain
acabar	to finish
voltar para casa	to go home
subir	to go up
procurar	to look for
perder	to lose
encontrar-se	to meet
abrir	to open
passar	to pass
jogar	to play
impedir	to prevent
proteger	to protect
puxar	to pull
ler	to read
receber	to receive
dizer	to say
servir	to serve
partilhar	to share
sorrir	to smile
começar	to start
parar	to stop
utilizar	to use
esperar	to waitBe patient, let time pass
querer	to want
perguntar-se	to wonder
trabalhar	to work
escrever	to write

Level 2: medium 35 words

Portuguese	English
aceitar	to accept
atacar	to attack
fazer falta	to be necessary
partir	to break
trazer	to bringBring something towards the speaker
confessar	to confess
atravessar	to cross
chorar	to cry
decidir	to decide
destruir	to destroy
desaparecer	to disappear
sentir	to feelPerceive a physical sensation or an emotion
lutar	to fight
levantar-se	to get up
descer	to go down
imaginar	to imagine
saltar	to jump
amar	to love
mexer	to move
notar	to notice
propor	to offer
organizar	to organise
tirar	to remove
reparar	to repair
substituir	to replace
descansar	to rest
correr	to run
conseguir	to succeed
apoiar	to support
contar	to tellNarrate, tell a story
deitar fora	to throw away
tocar	to touch
andar	to walk
retirar	to withdraw
anotar	to write down

Level 3: hard 25 words

Portuguese	English
suplicar	to beg
pertencer	to belong
apanhar	to catch
conversar	to chat
limpar	to clean
criticar	to criticise
exigir	to demand
depender	to depend
dividir	to divide
esvaziar	to empty
estimar	to estimate
fracassar	to fail
obrigar	to force
reunir	to gather
vestir-se	to get dressed
morar	to live in
recolher	to pick up
planear	to plan
preferir	to prefer
sentar-se	to sit down
apertar	to squeeze
acender	to switch on
levar	to take alongTake someone along with you
ameaçar	to threaten
sussurrar	to whisper

In Brazil, people say

KoKo also teaches Brazilian Portuguese. Among the words on this page, here are the ones that change.

to share partilhar compartilhar
to break partir quebrar
to throw away deitar fora jogar fora
to catch apanhar pegar
to plan planear planejar

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Portuguese words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Portuguese vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.